UPSC Prelims 2012 — solved PYQs

CO₂ does not absorb water vapour; it absorbs specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation re-emitted from Earth's surface.

Ultraviolet radiation is primarily absorbed by ozone in the stratosphere, not by CO₂.

CO₂ absorbs only certain wavelengths, particularly in the infrared range, not the entire solar spectrum.

This is incomplete. Statement 2 is also correct as PESA recognises the Gram Sabha's ownership over minor forest produce.

Statement 1 is also correct, not only statements 2 and 3. Moreover, Statement 3 is not accepted as correct in the official answer key.

Statement 3 goes beyond what the accepted answer key recognises. While PESA provides for mandatory consultation before granting mining leases, the answer key does not accept all three statements together.

The National Social Conference was not a Bengal-specific body nor was it formed by uniting regional organizations. It operated at a national level alongside the Congress.

While M.G. Ranade was a key figure in the National Social Conference, Behramji Malabari was more associated with the Age of Consent agitation. The reason for formation was the Congress's deliberate exclusion of social reform from its agenda.

Statement (b) is correct. The Congress's decision to avoid social reform topics necessitated the creation of a separate body.

Assam lies on similar latitudes but does not have over 80% of its area under forest cover.

Himachal Pradesh has significant forest cover but not over 80%, and it lies slightly further north than northern Rajasthan latitudes.

Uttarakhand does not have over 80% forest cover, and its latitude range is slightly different from northern Rajasthan.

Permitting NBFCs to do banking is a financial-sector regulatory matter, not a core element of inclusive governance.

While increased public-health spending and the Mid-day Meal Scheme are part of inclusive governance, District Planning Committees are also essential for participatory planning.

Permitting NBFCs to do banking is a regulatory matter outside the scope of inclusive governance, making this combination incorrect.

Bhakti (personal devotion to a deity) was a much later development that became prominent in the post-Vedic and medieval periods. It was not a feature of early Vedic religion.

Image worship (idol worship) was absent in the Rig Vedic period. The early Vedic Aryans invoked gods through hymns and fire sacrifices, not through icons or temples.

While nature worship is correct, Bhakti was not part of early Vedic religion. The dominant mode of worship was through sacrificial rituals (yajnas), not personal devotional practice.

Workers' remittances are private transfer receipts from migrants, not corporate investment inflows.

Official reserve transactions are undertaken by the central bank, not private firms establishing subsidiaries.

This is investment activity, not export of goods.

Statement 1 is too narrow and inaccurate — Dhrupad has earlier roots associated with temple traditions and was later developed under the patronage of various courts, not exclusively Rajput kingdoms.

Statement 1 incorrectly restricts Dhrupad's origin to the Rajput period; its roots go back to temple ritual music predating the Rajput courts.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct — Dhrupad is devotional and uses Sanskrit syllables in alap.

Banks remain integral to financial inclusion efforts under the mission.

NRLM does not shut down wage programmes.

Its focus is rural livelihoods, not urban enterprise subsidies.

Information from ministers is collected through parliamentary questions during Question Hour and Zero Hour, not through adjournment motions.

Reduction in demand for grants is achieved through cut motions (policy cut, economy cut, or token cut), which are distinct budgetary devices.

Postponement of proceedings to manage disorderly behaviour is handled by adjournment of the House by the Speaker, which is different from an adjournment motion.

Partially correct but incomplete. Statement 2 is also correct — legislatures cannot modify delimitation orders.

Partially correct but incomplete. Statement 1 is also correct — delimitation orders enjoy statutory finality.

Incorrect. Both statements accurately describe the finality of Delimitation Commission orders.

Blue Bull (Nilgai) is classified as Least Concern by IUCN, so this group does not entirely consist of endangered species.

Rhesus Monkey is classified as Least Concern, making this group incorrect as a set of endangered species.

Both Blue Bull and Hanuman Langur are Least Concern, and Cheetal (Spotted Deer) is also Least Concern. This group does not qualify.

This is incomplete. Education is affected by the Fifth Schedule (tribal area governance), Sixth Schedule (autonomous district councils), and Seventh Schedule (education in Concurrent List) as well.

This is incomplete. Directive Principles (Article 45 on early childhood care, Article 46 on promoting educational interests of weaker sections) and local body provisions (Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules) also bear on education.

This is incomplete. The Fifth and Sixth Schedules also bear on education through their provisions for tribal area administration and autonomous councils.

This is incorrect because The scheme is not merely about geographical presence of one big bank everywhere.

This is incorrect because Competition was not the scheme's core objective.

This is incorrect because The scheme is broader than deposit mobilization alone.

While the Round Table Conferences did not fully satisfy Indian aspirations, Gandhi's 1932 fast was specifically triggered by the Communal Award's provision for separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.

Congress-Muslim League differences were a broader issue. Gandhi's fast was specifically directed against separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, not Hindu-Muslim disagreements.

Option (c) is the correct answer. The Communal Award was indeed the trigger for Gandhi's epic fast in Yerwada Jail in 1932.

The extremist-moderate rift had been addressed in earlier sessions (notably the Lucknow Pact of 1916), and no specific two-nation theory resolution was passed at Lahore 1929.

Only statement 1 is correct. The two-nation theory was not a specific subject of resolution at the 1929 session.

Statement 1 is correct. The Lahore session is historically significant for the Purna Swaraj resolution.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Election disputes are not part of the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Article 131; they are dealt with through election petitions filed before High Courts.

Neither Statement 2 nor Statement 3 is correct in the context of original jurisdiction under Article 131.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Disputes involving Union Territories are not covered under Article 131 original jurisdiction in the manner stated.

Selling government securities withdraws liquidity from the banking system.

A higher CRR locks more funds with the central bank and reduces lendable resources.

A higher SLR similarly restricts banks' ability to lend freely.

Money Bills cannot go to a joint sitting because the Rajya Sabha's role is merely recommendatory with a 14-day time limit. Constitution Amendment Bills also cannot be referred to a joint sitting as Article 368 requires each House to pass them separately.

Constitution Amendment Bills cannot be taken to a joint sitting. Article 368 mandates that each House must pass them separately with the required special majority.

Joint sitting under Article 108 applies only to ordinary legislation, not to Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.

Incomplete. While the President must lay Finance Commission recommendations before Parliament under Article 281, the Constitution also requires the President to lay CAG reports (Article 151) and NCSC reports (Article 338) before Parliament.

The Public Accounts Committee is a parliamentary committee whose reports are presented within Parliament. They are not laid before Parliament by the President under a constitutional duty.

The PAC is a committee of Parliament itself. Its reports are presented to the House by the committee chairman, not laid before Parliament by the President.

Article 275(1) deals with grants-in-aid for tribal welfare in Scheduled Areas and Article 243A relates to Gram Sabha powers. Neither provision forms the constitutional basis for the NGT Act.

Article 243A pertains to Gram Sabha functions under the Panchayati Raj framework and has no connection to the establishment or mandate of the NGT.

Only Article 21 provides the constitutional foundation for the NGT Act through environmental right-to-life jurisprudence. The other provisions are unrelated.

The earth-touching gesture is not about enlisting the Earth to watch over or protect the Buddha from Mara; it is a gesture of bearing witness to his accumulated merit.

The mudra is not a teaching about the transitory nature of earthly existence. It is specifically linked to the moment of the Buddha's enlightenment and the defeat of Mara.

Option (a) is not fully accurate, as the gesture is specifically about witnessing merit and purity, not merely about watching over the Buddha to prevent disturbance.

Major surgery is beyond their role.

Drug price control is handled elsewhere.

They do not confer medical degrees.

Growing both cash and food crops is diversified cropping, not the defining feature of mixed farming.

Cultivating multiple crops in the same field refers to mixed cropping or intercropping, not mixed farming.

Option (c) correctly defines mixed farming.

Coal is one of the eight core industries with a weight of 10.33% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Steel is one of the eight core industries with a weight of 17.92% in the IIP.

Cement is one of the eight core industries with a weight of 5.37% in the IIP.